“Otherwise we’re nowhere, the forwards are running backwards to rucks.” Ewen McKenzie, on For The Love Of Rugby: South Africa.
Ewen McKenzie, a former Wallabies coach, does not think the Wallabies flyhalf stocks run deep enough for the Springboks in Perth.
“We’ve got to get across the advantage line. Otherwise we’re nowhere, the forwards are running backwards to rucks. It’s going to be a hard day in the office.”
Carter Gordon is out with the leg injury he picked up in Mendoza. That leaves Ben Donaldson, with 25 caps, and the uncapped Harry McLaughlin-Phillips as the only 10s in the 34-man squad Les Kiss named for Perth.
Who should wear 10 for the Wallabies on Sunday 27 September?
Australia cannot mine deeply at 10
On this week’s For The Love Of Rugby: South Africa, McKenzie told Steven Kitshoff that Australia lack experience at 10. He won 51 caps at tighthead and coached the Wallabies in 2013 and 2014.
“I don’t think we can mine deeply at… 10, we just don’t have the… depth of experience. All these guys coming in are not particularly experienced players.”
He expects Donaldson to start. McLaughlin-Phillips kicked the winning conversion for the Western Force against the Reds two days before the squad was named. McKenzie noted that Kiss knows him from the Reds.
McLaughlin-Phillips has never played a Test. Against the world champions, that is the whole worry.
Carter Gordon was the answer
Gordon came back from rugby league last October. By his return in August, Kiss wanted a more direct Wallabies with him at 10.
“I think Carter Gordon has given them a… flow in attack, but he also fronts up in defense… he’s certainly given cohesion in terms of attack, but he’s not there.”
Then came the leg injury in Mendoza, which forced him off on 69 minutes of the 28-28 draw. McKenzie’s summary later in the hour was blunter.
“10 is a perpetual problem. Carter Gordon was going to be a good solution.”
Kiss will not go back to Foley or Cooper
Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper are not in the squad. McKenzie, who won a Super Rugby title with Cooper at the Reds, reads that as a decision.
“I think fundamentally, Les has decided to keep moving on with younger guys rather than sort of revert back to Foley or [Quade Cooper] or someone like that.”
It is the right bet a year out from a home World Cup. A 10 who will be there in 2027 learns more in Perth than one who will not. The price gets paid on Sunday.
Read also: McKenzie’s complaint that the backs were not touching the ball, counted try by try on the Argentina tour.
The Wallabies flyhalf decides the gain line
The Springboks defence rushes up fast. A 10 who sits deep hands his runners the ball behind the gain line, and the next ruck lands on the wrong side of it. That is what McKenzie means by forwards running backwards to rucks.
“New Zealand were excellent at getting around, finding ways to get around [Kriel] and the like. I don’t think we’re in that space at the moment.”
Jesse Kriel is not in the Springboks 23. McKenzie’s point was that the line speed belongs to the whole defence. Watch where Australia’s first ruck lands after a lineout. Behind the gain line, and it is a long night.
Take the points
McKenzie’s fix for Perth is simple, and the series backs it.
“The Springboks took shots at goal against New Zealand. New Zealand didn’t take shots at goal… it was 27 points… It’s something I’d recommend Australia did.”
South Africa kicked nine of ten penalty goals across the four Tests. New Zealand took one shot and missed. The last time the Springboks came to Perth, in August 2024, they won 30-12. A year later Australia beat them 38-22 at Ellis Park.
Steve Hansen, a neutral on the call, said the Springboks won’t have forgotten Ellis Park. He called it “a wee bit of bloodletting”.
Read next: Kieran Read thinks Australia match up better to the Springboks than the All Blacks did, and Jeremy Paul picked them to win.
Your turn: who wears 10?
Donaldson, McLaughlin-Phillips, or a name Kiss left out. Who should be the Wallabies flyhalf? Make the case below.
Frequently asked
Who are the Wallabies flyhalves for the Springboks Test?
Ben Donaldson and the uncapped Harry McLaughlin-Phillips are the only flyhalves in the 34-man squad. Carter Gordon is out with a leg injury.
When do the Wallabies play the Springboks?
Sunday 27 September at Optus Stadium in Perth.
What did Ewen McKenzie say about the Wallabies flyhalf options?
On For The Love Of Rugby: South Africa, McKenzie said “I don’t think we can mine deeply at 10” and that without getting over the advantage line “the forwards are running backwards to rucks”.
